Dominoes are small rectangular blocks with a blank or identically patterned face and one end bearing an arrangement of spots resembling those on dice. A domino set typically contains 28 pieces.
A tiny nudge is all it takes for a line of dominoes to fall. Similarly, when one behavior causes another to shift, it can create a chain reaction with wide-ranging implications.
Rules
There are many different rules for domino games. However, the basic rules are the same in most of them. To begin, each player draws a domino from the stock and plays it against another tile in his hand or, depending on the game, against the heaviest double in his possession. If he cannot play his current tile, he may draw from the boneyard until he finds a playable one.
When playing a domino chain, all of the exposed ends must match (one’s touch ones and two’s touch two’s). If a double is played, its open end must be adjacent to the free end of another tile on the line.
The winner is awarded points based on the value of the opposing players’ remaining tiles rounded to a multiple of five. The first player to reach this score or an agreed-upon amount of points wins the round. The player who makes the first play is referred to as the setter or downer.
Materials
Domino construction is a fun activity that can help kids improve their hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and creativity. It can also increase their patience and focus. It is important to start with a simple design and then move on to more advanced designs. Dominos can be made from a variety of materials, including wood and plastic. There are also special domino tables designed for the game that can prevent the pieces from scratching surfaces.
If you’re creating a domino pendant, make sure the paper is sealed with Mod Podge to prevent water or other substances from seeping into the indentations on the piece. After the sealant dries, add a layer of resin to the top. Then, wait 24 hours before demolding. Make sure to pop any bubbles as they appear. You may also need to sand the edges of your dominoes to make them smooth. You can use sandpaper or a nail file to do this.
Variations
There are a number of different variations to domino. Some of them involve more than two players. In these games, each player has a set of domino tiles and scores when they make pairs of matching ends. The score for a pair is the total number of dots on both tiles.
Another way to score is by using a line of exposed ends as the starting point. This method works best with a double-nine or higher game set. When a player can’t play a domino, they pass their turn to the next player.
A common variation is Matador. In this variant, the objective is to match an end of a domino with one of the exposed ends. Then the player scores when the open-end pips on both sides of the first double are multiples of five. The first double is often called a spinner, because it allows chains to grow from both sides. Other variations include muggins, chicken foot, and more.
Scoring
Most domino games fit into one of four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games. The game ends when one player runs out of tiles or, in the case of a scoring game, when no player can play a tile. The winner is determined by adding up the total number of spots on each of the remaining dominoes and subtracting the opponent’s spot total rounded to the nearest multiple of five.
Depending on the rules of the game, players may add a domino to their own train on every turn, and can also add to other players’ trains. This is known as chaining. Some domino sets have a double with a value on both sides, called a spinner, which may be used on either end of the train or only on one side.
Several online programs allow you to play domino and many of these include a variety of different games. These include Mexican Train, Chicken Foot, Bendomino, Cyprus, Maltese Cross, and Matador.
